Historical Sounds

Welcome to the Walking Wolverine: A Sound Safari through U-M’s campus. This soundwalk was created by the winter 2024 musicology 346 Historical Sounds class. The purpose of this soundwalk is to dive into an audiological curation of Ann Arbor and to practice awareness of the sounds that make up our campus, considering both a modern and historical context. We suggest that as you listen to this soundwalk, you spend time thinking about the performances that make up our university. Consider what makes a performance. What elements do you look for? Do you look for specific instrumentation or structure? What does the audience look like and what is your personal role in these performances? We invite you to dive into these questions and enjoy.

Photo Source: Dominick Sokotoff/Daily

starling

goldfinch

Located by Hill Auditorium, and where our class met this semester, the Charles Baird Carillon is a monument that you can see and hear from most places on central campus. The tower chimes 4 times an hour with the Westminster Quarters, every fifteen minutes, adding an extra musical phrase as it gets closer to the next hour.

Contributor: Lucy Cosgrove

The recording is of a Grateful Dead concert at the Hill Auditorium at UMich. It features some of their most popular songs from the time, including “Casey Jones”, “Super Magnolia”, and “Uncle John’s Band”. Grateful Dead was a prolific Psychedelic Rock Band in the late 60s and early 70s, gathering a large fan-base known as “Deadheads”. This recording of a live concert at Hill Auditorium was taken in 1971, when the Grateful Dead would have been at the top of their prime. You can hear the crowd reaction to the band in the background of some songs.  
 
Contributor: Joshua Kowalkowski
Image Source: Mangrove Valley/Substack
Sound Source: Internet Archive

Background music of the market mixed with human voices and ambience. 

Contributor: Chichi Amanze
Photo Source: 9Wood

In this recording we hear John F. Kennedy addressing a group of students outside the Michigan Union on October 14th, 1960, at 2 am. At the time of this speech, JFK is running for president and this is a stop on his campaign tour. In Kennedy’s talk he presents the concept of the Peace Corps and discusses new ideals that he would promote within American society should he be elected president. Kennedy asks the students to demonstrate their support for his candidacy and join him in rebuilding an improved nation. He ends with a clever remark relating Michigan’s recent win against Duke to a future victory that these students will have on election day against Duke’s most famous alumnus - Richard Nixon. In this recording we hear both JFK’s remarks along with the students’ cheering.

Contributor: Lucy Cosgrove
Source: Bentley Historical Library

John F. Kennedy at the Michigan Union (1960)

Outside the Michigan Union, school apparel is often sold. Here, we hear an interaction between a student and salesperson as she buys a silly shirt. 

Contributor: Lucy Cosgrove

East Quadrangle is a dormitory on campus with approximately 850 students, but often times is filled with many more people (and sounds) as it is home to a dining hall, classrooms, and many lounge spots! 

Contributors: Joshua Kowalkowski & Anthony Young

A landmark of the University, located in the Diag, the Hatcher Graduate Library is the university's largest and most historic library.  It is known as a convenient, common, very quiet study space.  Since students are often studying late into the night, the audio captures an announcement at 11:15pm, reminding students of midnight closing time of the library. 
Contributor: Jason Chao
Image Source: University of Michigan Library

Recording from April 20, 1974 of Palmer College Rugby Football Club playing against the University of Michigan Rugby Football Club in Ann Arbor, coincidentally played on Palmer Field. As rugby is an uncommon sport in the United States, the reporter plays the role of an informer and describes a brief overview of the rules of the game. Rugby as a sport has since developed significantly since 1974, but up until the temporary gym was built on Palmer field to substitute for the CCRB while under construction, Palmer Field was still occasionally used for the current University of Michigan Rugby Football Club to practice on.

Contributor: Thomas Hendrick

Palmer Rugby on CBS News with Dan Rather (1974)

Also known as “The Great Society”, the 1964 University of Michigan commencement speech given by President Lyndon B. Johnson addressed the current issues of poverty and racial injustice. Not only was this speech a direct reflection of LBJ’s goals as president to improve the lives of all American people by expanding access to education, improving cities, and preserving nature, he challenged the audience to join him in his efforts. The preservation of this speech is a reminder of a critical time in the Civil Rights Movement and how every community, even at the University of Michigan, played a role in it.

Contributor: Kelsy Murphy 
Audio & Image Source: The American Presidency Project

President Lyndon B. Johnson Commencement Speech 1964

The recording is of a news reporter describing the protest practice known as a Teach-In that is occurring at the University of Michigan. The concept was originally conceived by Marshall Sahlins at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in order to leverage their - and other professors' - academic experience to raise awareness about the violence and horrors of the Vietnam War. The controversy of their actions are due to the split between the Americans on fearing political ideologies such as Communism during The Cold War and the loss and tragedy that came into the public view from televised-broadcasts of the Vietnam War, which thus resulted in far less support for drafting young men into it.

Contributor: Anthony Young
Audio & Image Source: Bentley Historical Library

Sounds of buses at the CCTC.

Contributor: Amit Nyamagoudar
Contributor: Amit Nyamagoudar

The sound of a professor giving a lecture in a calculus 3 class, accompanied by the sounds of pencils taking notes.

Contributor: Joshua Kowalkowski

Ambient sounds outside of Pinball Pete’s arcade.

Contributor: Michael Wynn 

Contributor: Michael Wynn

Ambient noises of heavy rain pattering down on an umbrella.
Contributor: Austin Killam

Larry Page, one of Google’s co-founders who studied at the University of Michigan, gives the commencement address at the Class of 2009’s graduation ceremony. While his speech emphasized the importance of taking risks and being ambitious, it also underscores the importance of family and relationships. As a mogul in the technology industry and likely a role model for many of the graduating students in the audience, this speech was very inspiring for the Class of 2009 which was entering an economy rattled by a recent economic recession. Overall, his speech can be categorized as a combination of encouragement and guidance.

Contributor: Mitchell Reinitz
Audio Source: Google’s YouTube Channel

Larry Page's University of Michigan Commencement Address

Larry Page's University of Michigan Commencement Address (2009)

The Biological Sciences Building (BSB) is a new addition campus, opening for classes in 2018 and to the public in 2019.  In the recording, you can hear echoed voices -- representing it's open layout and high ceilings. 
Contributor: Jason Chao

A safety signal from a crosswalk alerting pedestrians and cars that "yellow lights are flashing." 
Contributor: Kelsy Murphy

Crosswalk Safety Signal (Huron & State) Contributor: Kelsy Murphy

Right off of the bus station, the area between Chemistry Building and the North University Building is often full of many people during the day, but more industrial sounds can be heard at night. 
Contributor: Jacob Emmelot

Between Chemistry Building and NUB (Night) Contributor: Jacob Emmelot

Between Chemistry Building and NUB (Night)

Canterbury House is a historic location in Ann Arbor -- serving as both a Episcopal Church as well as a venue - a venue that has featured artists of many genres, from Joni Mitchell to Sun Ra, as well as many student bands! In this recording, we hear a jazz band playing during a concert this semester. 
Contributor: Em Spencer

Jazz Band Performing at Canterbury House; Contributor: Em Spencer

Music Playing Outside of Panera; Contributor: Cameron Reid

Welcome to the Diag. The Diag is a central landmark on campus where students come to hang out, groups perform, and other activities are held year round. Be sure to be on the lookout for the famous Diag squirrels.

The Michigan Union is one of the student unions on campus. It is a hub for students to hangout, grab some food, and a place to enjoy events. It is a place where speeches are given and student organizations hold meetings and events.

Located by Hill Auditorium, and where our class met this semester, the Charles Baird Carillon is a monument that you can see and hear from most places on central campus. The tower chimes 4 times an hour with the Westminster Quarters, every fifteen minutes, adding an extra musical phrase as it gets closer to the next hour.

The Wandering Wolverine: A Sound Safari through UM's Campus

The Wandering Wolverine: A Sound Safari through UM's Campus

28 ECHOES

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The Echoes

Welcome To Our Soundwalk!

Carillon

Glee in Modern Languages Building

Grateful Dead at Hill Auditorium (1971)

Blue Market in Michigan Union

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The Wandering Wolverine: A Sound Safari through UM's Campus

room 28 ECHOES

DOWNLOAD OUR APP TO DISCOVER THIS TOUR AND MANY OTHERS.

The Echoes

Welcome To Our Soundwalk!

Carillon

Glee in Modern Languages Building

Grateful Dead at Hill Auditorium (1971)

Blue Market in Michigan Union

Discover more geolocated content in our apps.

Are you a creator?

Get in touch

Echoes creative apps

Echoes labs

About us

28 ECHOES